Baby bottle holder



- April 14, 1959 H. MITCHELL BABY BOTTLE! HOLDER 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 15, 1955 Fig.5

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April 14, 1959 H. MITCHELL BABY BOTTLE HOLDER 5 Sheefcs-Sheet 2 Filed. Dec. 15, 1955 Herman M/fche/l INVENTOR.

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BABY BOTTLE HOLDER Filed Dec. 15, 1955 H s Sheets-Sheet :5

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Herman Mitchell INVENTOR.

United States Patent BABY BOTTLE HOLDER Herman Mitchell, Pacoima, Calif., assignor of one-tenth to Gadget-Of-The-vMonth Club, Inc., Los Angeles, Calif., a corporation of California e This invention relates to holders for baby bottles and particularly to holders for supporting the babys feeding bottles above the baby rather than on the side of him.

In the past there have been baby bottle holders which support baby bottles above the baby when he is in a prone position. One of the difiiculties encountered in using such a holder has been leakage or dripping from the bottle when it is not being used by the baby.- Accordingly an object of the present invention is to provide ababy bottle holder which automatically tilts .to a position with the nipple up that is, above the liquid level in the bottle so that it cannot drip or leak on the baby, the bed clothing or other surface on which the baby is resting during feeding. r

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a support for a babybottle, this support being pivotable through-a limited are as defined by stops in the travel of the support, there being means in the support to hold the baby bottle and additional means operatively connected with this support for yieldingly opposing the pivotal motion of the support in one direction and in turn, automatically returning the support to the initial position when the-bottle is released by the baby. 1

A further object of the invention is to provide-a nursing bottle holder which includes a support mounted on a frame or other support, the frame being of such construction that the baby may be fed whether he is in a prone position, a sitting position or even a standingposition. In other words, the position of the child being fed "is adjusted for by the structural arrangement of the baby bottle holders. a A further object of the invention is 'to provide a baby bottle holder which is of simplified construction in order. to keep production costs lowand yet, a*bottle holder for' a baby, which is of reasonably rugged construction.

.The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of theinvention. Further, since? numerous modifications andchanges will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and' described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may "be restorted to, falling within-the scope a second form of the section, of a further modification of the invention; Figure 6 is afragmentary elevational view of a modifiedclam'p to hold the baby bottle inthe bottle support part of the baby bottle holder; g Figure 7 is a further modification of the clamp;

Figure 8 is a further modification of the clamp;

Figure 9 is a'fragmentary side view of a typical embodiment of the invention showing the baby bottle held in a position where there will be no leakage therefrom; and

Figure 10 is a fragmentary side view of the same struc ture in Figure 9 but in the baby feeding position.

Inthe accompanying drawings there are several em= bodiments of the invention. In Figure 1 the bottle holder 10 consists of a bottle support 12 and a supporting frame 14 for the bottle support 12. Frame 14 is made of two parts 16 and 18, the latter functioning as a base. It consists of a loop 20 having sides 21 and 22 together with a connecting portion 23 at the outer ends of the sides 21 and 22. An eye 24 is formed at the inner end of side 18 and an eye 26 is formed at the inner end of side '22. The wire which forms side 18 continues beyond eye 24 upwardly as at 28 and then curves forwardly and downwardly as at 30. It has a U-shaped end 32 formed in it and then proceeds upwardly at 34 in parallel relationship to the portion 30. The portion 34 curves behind theframe part 16, one side 36 of part 16 passing through the slot 38 formed by portions and 34. After forming eye 26, the wire from which side 22 is made proceeds upwardly as at 40 and then curves rather sharply downwardly inorder to form a curved portion 42. A similarly curved, parallel portion 44 is adjacent to it, portions 42 and 44 being connected by U-shaped portion 46. The slot 48 defined by the portions 42and 44 accommodates side 50 of part 16; side 50 being substantially identical to side. 36. Sides 36 and 50 fit snugly in slots 38 and 48-so that the parts 16 and 18 maybe pivotally adjusted with retaining an adjustment between the parts 16 and 18 of the frame 14.

.Si-des 36 and are provided with eyes 56 'and 58 respectively, the eye 56 being engaged with the eye 24 while'eye 58 is engaged with eye 26. This mounts the frame part 14 for pivotal movement with respect to the part 18'thereof. As previously mentioned the sides 36 and '50 pass through the slots 38 and 48 whereby the part 14 of the frame is guided in its pivotal travel. Starting with eye 56 the specific configuration of parts 14 is 3 formed by the wire moving upwardly through slot 38 where there is an eye 60. After curving in a circular fashion to form eye 60 a short part 62 of the wire rises therefrom. A transverse portion 64 extends at right angles to portion 62 to a portion 66 which is at right angles to transverse portion 64 and parallel to portion 62. Eye 68 I is formed in the wire at an end of the short portion 66 Figure 5 is an elevational view, parts being shown in' from which extends the side 50 at the lower end of which there is eye 58. The parallel portions 62 and 66 constitutes stops for the bottle support.

' Bottle support 12 is made :of a single piece of wire. Intermediate the ends thereof there is a loop 70 in which the baby feeding bottle is to be inserted. From one end iof the loop there extends a straight spindle 72. A

straight spindle 74 aligned with the spindle 72 extends from loop 70 and in the opposite direction. The spindles pass through eyes 60 and 68. The outer ends of the spindles 72 and 74 are returned in order to form loops 76 and 78, one side of which abuts the stops 62 and 66 in order to limit the extent of pivotal travel'of the bottle I support 12.

Means yieldingly opposing the pivotal movement of the bottle support in one direction are operatively connected with it. The preferred means consist of a coil spring 80 mounted on aportion of one of the spindles and having 5 ends which clamp on a part of the frame and a part of one of the loops. Accordingly spring 80 constantly retains the bottle support inone position. This position -is shown in Figure 9. When the bottle is in the position shown in Figure 10, it has to be held there. When released, ;the bottle will gently swing upwardly so'that 'the nipple .isiabove the liquid'level as shown in Figure 9.

In use and operation .of the holder of Figure 1, the frame is placed around the badys head with the baby bottle 82 in such position that it will be accessible to the baby while he is 'onhisback. In connection with this the upper part 14 ofthe frame may be adjusted to suit'the child. In order to insert the bottle 82, the loops 76 and 78 are moved together manually therebyopening'loop 70 slightly. 'The'inherent'resiliency in the wire which forms the bottle support returns the loops 76 .and 78 such that loop .70 firmly clamps on the surface of the "bottle in orderto hold it. Inasmuch as it is preferred to have-the wire which forms the baby bottle holder coated with a plastic .or other gfriction enhancing material, the'bottle 82 is .very firmly, held in place.

Bottle 8,2uis"tilted to the position shown in Figure and offered to the .baby. When the baby stops feeding and releases the nipple of the bottle spring 80 automatically returns it-to the upright position sothat milk will not drip therefrom.

=Attention is now invited to Figures 2-4. Thebaby bottle holder 90 disclosed therein comprises a symmetrical wire frame on which there is mounted a bottle support 92. The wire frame 94 consists of a front arch 96 and a rear arch98. The legs on one side of the arches are joined by a cross member 100 while the legs on the other side of the arches are joined by a similar cross ing portion 115 which extends between loops 120 and 124. This spring-constantly biases the bottlesupportin such direction to normally maintain bottle 82 in the pos1- tion shown in Figure 9. *Therefore when the infant being fed releases the bottle, it will automatically return, by the bias of spring 128, to the upright position. In this way seepage and leakage :from the bottle is prevented.

In Figure 5 there is a modified holder for a baby bottle, this holder including a support 140 for the bottle. Loop 142 .forms the portion of the support which embraces the bottle .82, this loophaving longitudinally aligned spindles 144 and 146 protruding therefrom in opposite directions. The spindle 144 has a loop 148 at one end thereof, while the spindle 146 has loop 150 at its end. These loops member. These across members are adapted to rest-on a supporting surface and the entire frame is arranged to be placed over the child. This frame, as the previouslydescribed frame, is preferably made :of wire having a coating of plastic or rubber or other similar material 52 thereon.

The upper'parts of the arch :notonly curve inwardly but converge. The entire frame is made of a single piece of wire. Starting with an eye 102 in the upper cross member 104 of arch 96, the .wire curves downwardly and forwardly-in order to form one side of ,arch 96, itextends at right angles in order to form the cross member 100, and .then upwardly to the upper cross member 106 of the rear arch :98. Continuing furtherthe opposite sides of arch 98 is formed togetherwith the other lower-cross member :from which the other arch side is formed. Extending-therefromis aportion 110 of the upper arch cross member, thelatter terminating in an eye 112 which is in alignment with-eye 102. The members 110 and 104 are malignment as well as eyes 102 and 112. A connecting 191863 .115 extendsfromeye 112 to eye 102 thereby formmg .a continuous closed loop of the wire which forms the frame.

Bottle support 92 comprises a loop .114, thelatter'being formedof wire with one end 116 protruding therefrom in one direction and terminating in aloop 120. Loop 120 is identical to loop 76. Fromloop .120 there-extends another portion 122 which is inalignment with the portion 116. Loop 124 is .formed on .the end of portion 122 and issimilaritoloop 120. Parts of loops 120 and 124 are mounted for pivotal movement in the eyes 102 and 112 .thereby mounting the entire bottle support 92 forpivotalmovement-in-the arches of the frame. In view of :the inherent resiliency of the wire which forms the bottle support 92, the loops 120 and 124-may be-squeezed toward each other in order to open the bottle supporting loop 114- so that the baby nursing bottle may be easily inserted therein. Upon release of the loops 120 and 124, the loop 114 will spring-tightly back so :that it clamps firmly on "the baby bottle.

A spring 128 is mounted on part of one of the 'loops 'andhas one end fastened ,to that loop and the other end fastened to a part of'the frame, for example the connectare longitudinally spaced and positioned with the planes in which each of said loops lies displaced approximately with respect to each other so that sides 152 and 154 of frame 156 function as stops for the baby bottle holder limiting the .pivotal travel thereof. The sides of the frame haveeyes 160 and 162 at the ends thereof. These eyes accommodate portions of the loops 150 and 148 respectively, mounting the baby bottle support for pivotal movement. A spring -164is mounted on a part'of one of the loops :and has an end clamped thereover. The oppos'ite-end of thespringis clampedover'a portion of one of the sides of frame 156 whereby'the spring constantly presses the support in :one'direction. "The same operational :events shown in Figures 9 and 10 pertain to the operation of the'fibaby'bottle holder disclosed in'Figure 5.

:Frame 152 is preferably made of wire, the ends of which are twisted rtogether as at 170, with an extreme end portion 172 passing through aligned openings 174 in telescopingly arranged tubes 1 76 and 178, respectively. The rapper end of :tube 176 has the sides 152 and 154 of frame 156 protruding therefrom. The lower end of the flowertube 178 is mounted on a base 180. Explicitly, 'the xbase has a pocket 182 inwhich tube 178 is accommodatedgthis pocket being sufficiently large to allow the .tube i182- to be swung on its pivot 1'84, the latter:holding.it:fastened to .base 180. An optional set screw 186 is carried by the base and-comes to bear against a surface of tube 178 upon adjustment of the set screw. In thiswaythe angularity ofthetu'bes which hold the upper parLof-Lthe frame adjacent .to the baby may be adjusted. AS1311 additional featureof thebase 180, the suction cups 18.7;may be used to prevent slipping.

.Any {of the previously described baby bottle holders mayibe fitted with the supports described in connection therewith. In addition various other loops may be substituted in the supports. For example in Figure 6 a very simplified :loop is shown. This loop 190 is on a typical spindle i192, ,the'latter being mounted for restricted pivotal movement in the eyes 193 and 194 at the upper end Thissame frame and spindle construction is :shown :inFigures .7 .and 8, the purposes of which are to tillustratemodified babybottle embracing loops. Loop 19,0..comprises ;a:single piece :of wire which is curved in a acirclezandwhichis split at 196. The intermediate part of the :circle is soldered, welded or otherwise fastened to the :spindle ,192 intermediate the ends thereof. The sides of the loop 190 are manually spread or simply forced apart by pressing .the bottle thereinto. An improvement over the loop 190 is seen in Figure 7 wherein the loop 198 has end portions 202 protruding therefrom and in alignment. Finger grips 203 and 204 are bent on the ends of portions .200 and .202 so that .the diameter of loop 198 may be altered by squeezing'the finger grip portions 203 and 204 together. After squeezing them in this fashion the baby bottle in inserted ;in the loop 198. Upon'release of the :finger grip :portions .203 and 204 the baby bottle 82 is .held firmly :in place due to the inherent resiliency of the material fromwhich the loop 198 ismade.

,Substituted on the spindle .192. in Figure 8 there .is a loop 208 made of a single piece of wire and curved in a circle. .The ends of the loop 208 overlap as at 210, and an intermediate part of the loop forming wire is soldered or otherwise rigidly secured to the spindle 192. In order to enhance the frictional contact with the bottle a spring 212 is concentrically arranged on the loop 208. Upon insertion of the baby bottle 82 the spring 212 yields as does the sides of the loop. Each of the modified loops may be used in connection with any of the previously described embodiments of the baby bottle holder. In all cases the feature of having the baby bottle 82 returned to the upright position so that no liquid will inadvertently flow therefrom, is retained.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A baby bottle holder for use in feeding a baby, said baby bottle holder consisting of a wire frame having wire sides, a bottle support, said wire frame having aligned eyes therein, said bottle support including a wire spindle having loops at the ends thereof, said loops being mounted for pivotal movement in said eyes, a spring connected with said frame and one of said eyes constantly urging said support in one direction of pivotal movement so that the bottle maintained therein is constantly urged to such position that the nipple is above the bottom of the bottle, said support including a loop carried by said spindle, said loop adapted to embrace the bottle, means operatively connected with said loop for opening said loop in order to insert and remove the bottle, said means for opening said loop comprising said loops at the ends of said spindle.

2. A baby bottle holder of the character defined in claim 1 including means connected with said wire sides for supporting said sides in position for the baby to feed from the bottle in the loop.

3. A baby bottle holder of the character defined in claim 1 including a stop on said frame and located in the path of pivotal movement of a portion of one of said loops in order to limit the travel of said bottle support, and means mounting said sides for pivotal movement.

4. A baby bottle holder of the character defined in claim 1 including a base having eyes, said sides having eyes which are pivotally connected to the eyes of said base, and means for constraining the movement of said sides with respect to said base.

5. A baby bottle holder of the character defined in claim 1 including a base having eyes, said sides having eyes which are pivotally connected to the eyes of said base, and means for constraining the movement of said sides with respect to said base including a pair of parallel Wire portions between which a slot is formed, and a portion of one of said sides passing through said slot and frictionally contacting the sides thereof in order to hold said sides in adjusted position.

6. A baby bottle holder of the character defined in claim 1 including an extensible support to which said wire sides are connected, said extensible support including a pair of telescopingly arranged tubes having apertures therein, a part of one of said wire sides passing through aligned apertures in order to hold said tubes in the adjusted position.

7. A baby bottle holder of the character defined in claim 1 including an extensible support to which said wire sides are connected, said extensible support including a pair of telescopingly arranged tubes having apertures therein, a part of one of said wire sides passing through aligned apertures in order to hold said tubes in the adjusted position, a base to which one of said tubes is connected, and means on said base for anchoring said base to a supporting surface.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 210,235 Borch Nov. 26, 1878 932,344 Starbard Aug. 24, 1909 1,434,000 Gibbs Oct. 31, 1922 1,606,065 Eveleth Nov. 9, 1926 2,084,162 Packard June 15, 1937 2,412,426 Rayko Dec. 10, 1946 2,557,570 Seiger June 19, 1951 2,684,109 Youmans July 20, 1954 

